Facts about Austria
Austria connects Alpine valleys with the cities of the Danube, across nine federal states. Explore its maps, discover the history and everyday life behind the places, then practise German.
- Population, January 2026
- About 9.2 million
- Capital
- Vienna
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Official language
- German
- Federal states
- 9
- Highest point
- Grossglockner, 3,798 m
Austria · 0 of 20 rounds passed
Two timed rounds per topic, 20 seconds a question
The mountains stretch from Vorarlberg through Tyrol and Salzburg towards Carinthia and Styria. Linz and Vienna face the Danube in the north and east, while Graz stands on the Mur in the southeast. Lake Constance marks the western edge and the shallow Lake Neusiedl opens onto the plains beside Hungary.
Start with all nine states, then place twenty selected cities and towns and explore eight lakes and rivers. Ten illustrated reading topics each have two quiz rounds. The German lessons teach Standard German, with Austrian vocabulary and regional dialects explained in the reading.
Geography of Austria
Alpine valleys lead east to the Danube and the plains around Vienna and Lake Neusiedl.
- How many states does Austria have?
- Nine federal states. Vienna is both the national capital and a state, while Tyrol has separate northern and eastern parts.
- Which river flows through Vienna?
- The Danube, called Donau in German. It also passes Linz and Krems before reaching Vienna.
- What is Austria’s highest mountain?
- The Grossglockner, at 3,798 metres, in the Hohe Tauern mountains.
More about Austria: geography
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with eight neighbours. Germany and Czechia lie to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The Alps dominate the west and south. The Grossglockner, at 3,798 metres, is the country’s highest mountain.
The Danube passes Linz and Vienna before reaching Slovakia. Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, stands on the Mur, while Innsbruck lies on the Inn in Tyrol. The nine federal states include Vienna itself. Tyrol has two separate parts: North Tyrol around Innsbruck and East Tyrol around Lienz. Lake Constance is at the western edge, while Lake Neusiedl is shared with Hungary in the east.
History of Austria
Habsburg rule gave way to a republic, with independence restored and neutrality adopted in 1955.
- When did Austria become a republic?
- In 1918, after the Habsburg monarchy collapsed at the end of the First World War.
- Did the State Treaty itself declare neutrality?
- No. The treaty restored sovereignty in 1955. A separate constitutional law adopted permanent neutrality on 26 October that year.
- When did Austria join the EU?
- In 1995. Austria also belongs to the euro area and the Schengen Area.
More about Austria: history
The Habsburg dynasty controlled the Austrian lands from the late thirteenth century until 1918. Vienna became the centre of a monarchy whose territories extended far beyond today’s Austria. The compromise of 1867 created Austria-Hungary. Its collapse at the end of the First World War brought a republic in 1918.
Nazi Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss of 1938. After the Second World War, Austria was occupied by the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and France. The State Treaty signed in May 1955 restored sovereignty. Austria adopted permanent neutrality through a separate constitutional law on 26 October 1955. The country joined the European Union in 1995.
German in Austria
Standard German has an Austrian variety, with regional dialects and familiar local words.
- Is Austrian a separate language?
- Austria’s official language is German. Austrian Standard German is a national variety, and local dialects vary across the country.
- What does Semmel mean?
- A bread roll. Other familiar Austrian words include Jänner for January and Erdäpfel for potatoes.
- Which German does this guide teach?
- Standard German. The reading explains Austrian vocabulary and regional dialects, including Alemannic dialects in Vorarlberg.
More about Austria: language
German is Austria’s official language. Austrian Standard German has its own vocabulary and pronunciation within the wider German language. Jänner means January, Erdäpfel means potatoes and Semmel means a bread roll. Grüß Gott is a traditional greeting used in many parts of Austria. Regional usage varies, so these words do not replace every alternative in every conversation.
Most Austrian dialects belong to the Bavarian group. Vorarlberg’s dialects are mainly Alemannic, linking the far west linguistically with neighbouring Switzerland. Slovene is an official minority language in specified areas of Carinthia, with Croatian and Hungarian recognised in parts of Burgenland. The lessons here teach Standard German. Wienerisch names the Viennese dialect, while Gemütlichkeit describes a sense of comfort and conviviality.
Culture of Austria
Music and modern art share the stage with coffee house conversation and regional traditions.
- Where was Mozart born?
- In Salzburg in 1756. The city’s musical history is also reflected in the Salzburg Festival.
- Is Viennese coffee house culture on UNESCO’s international list?
- It is in Austria’s national inventory of intangible cultural heritage, entered in 2011. That inventory is distinct from UNESCO’s international Representative List.
- Where do the Lipizzaner horses perform?
- At the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, associated with the Hofburg.
More about Austria: culture
Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756, while Vienna became an important musical centre for Haydn and Schubert. Beethoven was born in Bonn and spent much of his working life in Vienna. The Vienna Philharmonic performs its New Year’s Concert at the Musikverein. The Salzburg Festival began in 1920. Gustav Klimt was a leading figure in the Vienna Secession.
Viennese coffee house culture entered Austria’s national inventory of intangible cultural heritage in 2011. It is a national inventory entry, distinct from UNESCO’s international Representative List. The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is known for its Lipizzaner horses. Ball season centres on winter, and regional traditions include Krampus figures accompanying the St Nicholas season. Dirndl dresses and lederhosen are forms of traditional clothing, with local variations.
Austria’s economy
A large services sector works alongside specialised manufacturing and tourism in the mountains.
- Which currency does Austria use?
- The euro. Austria’s earlier currency was the Austrian schilling.
- Does Austria rely entirely on tourism?
- No. Services are the largest sector, with specialised manufacturing also important. Alpine rivers support hydropower generation.
- Where are Austrian wine regions?
- Mainly in eastern Austria, especially Lower Austria and Burgenland. Styria and Vienna also have wine regions.
More about Austria: economy
Austria uses the euro and has a high-income economy. Services account for the largest share of economic activity. Specialised manufacturing includes machinery and steel, with Linz associated with the steelmaker voestalpine. Germany is a major trading partner. Hydropower from Alpine rivers contributes substantially to electricity generation.
Winter sports bring visitors to the Alpine valleys, while summer tourism connects the lakes with cultural destinations such as Vienna and Salzburg. Vineyards are concentrated in eastern Austria, especially Lower Austria and Burgenland, with further wine regions in Styria and Vienna. Red Bull was co-founded by Dietrich Mateschitz and Thai businessman Chaleo Yoovidhya. Austria’s social partnership brings employer and employee organisations into negotiations on economic and employment matters.
Government in Austria
Nine federal states share a parliamentary system, with a president as head of state.
- Who is Austria’s head of state?
- The president. The chancellor leads the federal government in a parliamentary system.
- Is Austria a NATO member?
- No. Austria is in the EU but outside NATO, with permanent neutrality adopted in 1955. It maintains its own armed forces.
- What are the two chambers of parliament?
- The National Council, elected by voters, and the Federal Council, representing the federal states.
More about Austria: politics
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic. The directly elected president is the head of state, while the chancellor leads the federal government. Parliament has two chambers. Voters elect the National Council, or Nationalrat, and the Federal Council, or Bundesrat, represents the states. Parliament meets in Vienna’s Parliament Building on the Ringstrasse.
Austria belongs to the European Union, euro area and Schengen Area. It is outside NATO. The neutrality law of 1955 rules out military alliances and foreign military bases, while Austria maintains its own armed forces. Austria joined the United Nations in 1955. Vienna hosts a major UN office and the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency and OPEC.
Nature and wildlife in Austria
High mountain habitats and Danube floodplains protect very different kinds of wildlife.
- What is Austria’s largest national park?
- Hohe Tauern, covering 1,856 square kilometres across Salzburg, Tyrol and Carinthia. It is also the largest national park in the Alps.
- Is Lake Neusiedl entirely Austrian?
- No. It is shared with Hungary, where it is called Fertő. It is a shallow lake with extensive reed beds.
- Where is Wörthersee?
- In Carinthia, between the areas of Klagenfurt and Villach, north of the Drava.
More about Austria: nature & wildlife
Hohe Tauern is the largest national park in the Alps, covering 1,856 square kilometres across Salzburg, Tyrol and Carinthia. It contains the Grossglockner and high mountain habitats for Alpine ibex, marmots and golden eagles. Chamois are goat-antelopes found in Alpine habitats. Bearded vultures have been reintroduced to the Alps, including Hohe Tauern.
East of Vienna, Donau-Auen National Park protects Danube floodplains. Lake Neusiedl and the Seewinkel have reed beds and shallow wetlands important for birds. The Fertő / Neusiedlersee cultural landscape is a shared UNESCO World Heritage Site with Hungary. Wörthersee lies in Carinthia, while Attersee is in Upper Austria. Austria’s climate varies with elevation, with colder Alpine conditions and drier eastern lowlands.
Food in Austria
Breaded veal and regional dishes sit alongside the pastries of the Viennese coffee house.
- What is Wiener schnitzel made from?
- Traditionally veal, pounded thin and fried in breadcrumbs. Pork versions are commonly described separately.
- What is Sachertorte?
- A chocolate cake with apricot jam, associated with Vienna.
- What is Kaiserschmarrn?
- A shredded pancake, usually served with fruit compote. A Wiener Melange is a coffee drink with milk and foam.
More about Austria: food & cuisine
Wiener schnitzel is traditionally a thin veal cutlet fried in breadcrumbs. Pork versions are commonly distinguished by their description. Tafelspitz is boiled beef associated with Viennese cooking. Austrian cuisine reflects connections with neighbouring lands, including goulash and dumplings. Regional dishes include Carinthian filled pasta and Styrian pumpkin seed oil.
Sachertorte is a chocolate cake with apricot jam, while Apfelstrudel wraps an apple filling in thin pastry. Raisins appear in many recipes but are not universal. Kaiserschmarrn is a shredded pancake usually served with fruit compote. A Wiener Melange is a coffee drink with milk and foam. Grüner Veltliner is a well-known Austrian white wine grape, grown especially in Lower Austria.
Landmarks in Austria
Imperial Vienna and Salzburg’s old town lead to salt mining landscapes and Alpine routes.
- What is Schönbrunn Palace?
- A former Habsburg summer residence in Vienna. The palace and gardens form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Why is Hallstatt a World Heritage destination?
- It is part of the wider Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut cultural landscape, shaped by thousands of years of salt mining and settlement.
- Where is the Wachau?
- Along the Danube in Lower Austria, around the stretch between Melk and Krems.
More about Austria: landmarks
Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens in Vienna are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a former Habsburg summer residence. The Hofburg was an imperial residence and now houses several institutions, including the president’s offices. St Stephen’s Cathedral is known for its patterned tiled roof. The Kunsthistorisches Museum preserves major collections assembled by the Habsburgs.
Salzburg’s historic centre stands below the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Hallstatt belongs to the wider Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut cultural landscape, recognised for the long relationship between salt mining and settlement. The Wachau is a UNESCO-listed landscape along the Danube around Krems. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road climbs through the Hohe Tauern, while Eisriesenwelt near Werfen is an extensive ice cave system.
People and everyday life in Austria
Vienna holds a large share of the population, while local identities follow states and valleys.
- How many people live in Austria?
- About 9.2 million on 1 January 2026, according to Statistics Austria. Vienna has more than two million residents.
- Are foreign-born residents the same as foreign citizens?
- No. A foreign-born person may be an Austrian citizen, and a foreign citizen may have been born in Austria.
- What is an apprenticeship?
- Vocational education combining practical workplace training with school-based study.
More about Austria: people & society
Austria had about 9.2 million residents on 1 January 2026, according to Statistics Austria. Vienna is by far the largest city, with more than two million residents. Birthplace and citizenship describe different things, so foreign-born residents and foreign citizens should not be counted as the same group. The country has a long history of migration and recognised minority communities.
Roman Catholicism is Austria’s largest religious denomination, alongside other faiths and residents with no religious affiliation. Vocational education includes apprenticeships combining workplace training with school. Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis in Vienna. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Thal near Graz. Franz Schubert was born in Vienna, and Empress Elisabeth of Austria is widely known by the nickname Sisi.